An estimated 850,000 Christmas cards were delivered by the Scout Post this year, in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

The alternative post service has been running for more than 15 years. Each stamp costs 16p and the cards are delivered to addresses by scouts and beavers and adult volunteers, in the first two weeks of December.

Adults in the 45 areas of the scout association in Cardiff and the Vale, sort the hundreds of thousands of cards that have been left in collection points across the area, before they are delivered in what is a military operation.

Paul Willicombe, chairman of the Scout Post for Cardiff and the Vale, said: 'The changing nature of Cardiff has seen a reduction in the number of cards sent but based on last year's figures we are delivering an estimated 850,000 cards. We are very grateful for the support of people who use the service as it is a lifeline in terms of fundraising each year.'